Bertha

The betrothed of John of Leyden, but, being a vassal of Count
Oberthal, she was unable to marry without her lord's consent. When she
went with her mother to ask permission of marriage, the count, struck
with her beauty, determined to make her his mistress. She afterwards
makes her escape from the castle, and, fancying that the “prophet” had
caused the death of her lover, goes to Munster fully resolved to
compass his death by setting fire to the palace. She is apprehended, and, being
brought before the prophet-king, recognises her lover in him, saying,
“I loved thee once, but now my love is turned to hate,” and stabs
herself.

(Meyerbeer's opera, Le Prophéte.)

Bertha

The blind daughter of Caleb Plummer in Dickens's Cricket on
the Hearth (a Christmas story), 1845.

Bertha

(Frau ). A German impersonation of the Epiphany,
corresponding to the Italian Befana. Represented as a white lady, who
steals softly into nurseries and rocks infants asleep in the absence of
negligent nurses; she is, however, the terror of all naughty children.
Her feet are very large, and she has an iron nose. (See Befana.)